This is a great observation. I agree with you completely.

People question to what extent I created napster, as compared to my nephew Shawn, given that he coded and I did not. These issues, the copyright wars, the strategic decisions about not licensing, and going a very disruptive route were mine and in retrospect they were correct. I was actually on the phone speaking with Andrew Bridges from WSGR when he got the news that he has won the decision in the diamond rio case. Computers were not recording devices under the home audio recording act. I had read every 9th circuit opinion on copyright and felt that Sony Betamax and substantial non infringing use where certain defenses. Additionally we had immunity from liability under DMCA. The arguments I made before Shawn began coding are essentially the same arguments made today by google vs viacom. I hung up the phone from Andrew, walked over to Shawn who was sitting on the coach and said ok, we need to design our network in such a way that the MP3 files themselves never touch our network. If the files move between users directly we are safe and we can legitimately defend ourselves if they sue. Shawn then explained in detail how we could architect the network to accomplish those goals using a hybrid P2P network all the while making it clear, he would code, and I could deal with the fallout which anyone who knows me will tell you, I was happy to do. Even today I believe consumers have rights, although I might be the only one left who believes that.

john@netcapital.com

In the mid-seventeenth century English efforts to bring Ireland to heel were spear-headed by Oliver Cromwell's ferocious and successful military campaign. Planning to reward his soldiers with Irish land Cromwell ordered that a survey of who held what was made. It was completed in 1656 and called the Civil Survey. This reveals that Fanningstown had slipped from English control and was now in the possession of Edmund Fanning, a member of an old Anglo-Norman family that had remained Catholic and was vehemently opposed to Cromwell.

In Limerick City where Cromwell's general, Henry Ireton, had led a six-month siege, another member of the family, Dominick Fanning, an alderman, had led the resistance. By October 1651 Ireton had prevailed and Dominick Fanning was one of the twenty who were to loose 'lives and property.' He had escaped but returned to the city to retrieve some money. As his wife refused to receive him he hid in his ancestor's tomb in St Francis Abbey for three days and nights. Emerging to warm himself at a guard's fire he was identified by a former servant who denounced him to Ireton's soldiers.

One of the few remaining medieval houses in Limerick is Fanning's Castle, on Mary Street, a late medieval stone tower house, once five storeys high, with a turret staircase, ogee windows and battlements. This former residence of Dominick Fanning was one of the houses that lined the main street of English Town and so impressed foreign visitors. It is eloquent of the prominent position of a family that was supplying bailiffs and mayors for the city from the mid-fifteenth century until Cromwell's victory, when a new group of English Protestant families became dominant.

Anna Fanning, who died in 1634, is the only Fanning remembered in St Mary's Cathedral in the city; a stone slab on the floor of the chapel of St Nicholas and St Catherine bears her name.

Chess.net my name is Fanning.

Pokerstars my name is Fanning.

Landgrab.net my name is Fanning.

Gamecolony.com my name is Fanning.

World of Warcraft server: azgalore my name is Fanning.

I think about this question daily. Firstly, let me say that I am proud of both Sean Parker and Shawn Fanning and what they have accomplished. Both were able to spend years working with me an learning  from my experience, insight and from my failures.  Finally let me say that I have spent most of my time since napster trying to bootstrap.I have only had one project that raised more than 1 million in ourside capital and that was Netmovies. Sean and Shawn both raised significant outside capital quickly and although both companies Plaxo, and Snocap were significant, it was what came after those companies that established their success. The company that raised some capital was Netmovies a joint venture with Blockbuster to deliver movies directly to consumers. We were 10 years early, and although it looked like Blockbuster would be a great partner, they hit some speed bumps. 

The projects I have worked on since napster, other than Netmovies have been for the most part bootstrapped. In the angel round of financing for napster, I lost complete control of the company after which bad things happened. The total amount of outside capital for all the projects since napster has totalled less than 1 million. Most of that consists of bridge loans little of which has been repaid to date, although I still work and hope those investors will benefit in the future.

I don't believe there is any money owed professionals, that is unpaid, that we are not actively working to pay. Not all bills for all professionals are paid in a manner that would be considered at all timely which I think is someone common for start ups. There are some vendors we refused to pay, based on a failure to provide, or disatisfaction with the service that is billed.  I can't think of a single case of a dispute, or anyone chasing us to get paid that has not been resolved. If you feel like you are owed and unpaid money, you should email me directly.

I think I have the formula for success down which I could discuss in detail. The problem is more executing against what I know, and doing it at the right time. Its hard to execute well when you are trying to do much more than the capital you have available which I think I have a problem with on an ongoing basis. The main result seems to be a loss of confidence and momentum rather than one continuous steady rise. However the key really comes down to building great product. If you can build something great, with the resources you are able to scrape together, the rest can find a way to come together.